Puerto Rico back on House’s front-burner

05/31/2007

Sponsors of a bill to settle the question of statehood are optimistic it will be approved. Its Senate outlook is unclear.


By Pablo Bachelet,
McClatchy News Service
Last update: May 30, 2007


WASHINGTON - For the first time in nearly 10 years, the House of Representatives seems likely to pass a bill that would put Puerto Rico on a path to statehood or independence.

The latest of many efforts to settle the 4 million islanders' ambiguous relationship with the United States comes as Congress struggles with how to deal with 12 million illegal migrants, most of them Hispanics.

Sponsored by Reps. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., and Luis Fortuno, R-Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 faces close scrutiny in the Senate. But its backers have President Bush's support and are optimistic that they can prevail, possibly securing a floor vote in the House as soon as next month.

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